Performing Arts

The Performing Arts Program introduces performers from Japan’s contemporary and traditional music, dance and theater scenes, and commissions non-Japanese performing artists to create works on themes relating to Japan. Many distinguished artists have performed in the Society’s 260-seat theater and on Society-produced North American tours. Since 1953, Japan Society’s Performing Arts Program has inspired audiences in New York and beyond with over 1,000 productions ranging from traditional Japanese arts to contemporary theater, dance, music and more.

Stay Tuned for an Announcement of Our Upcoming 2024-25 Season!

Thank you to everyone who attended our events this past season— your presence and support helped make our year of unconventional and genre-defying programming a tremendous success! After hosting the first-ever John Cage series focused on the relationship between Cage and Japan in the fall, our season culminated with fearless works of dance and theater that defied conventional perspectives of iconic Western culture—Hamlet, Boléro, The Dying Swan and hip-hop.

Stay tuned for our exciting 2024-25 season announcement in the coming weeks, which will include an anniversary bash for one of Japan Society’s most successful commission projects, several stunning North American premieres of music, theater, and dance from the United States, Japan and East Asia, collaborations between performing arts and film, and the momentous arrival of a lauded traditional Japanese theater ensemble in New York City for the first time in over 30 years.

Our innovative Performing Arts programming relies on the generous and continued support of our patrons. To help us continue thriving, please donate or become a member by clicking the buttons below.